Vehicle body



Aug. 22, 1933.

R. 1 CARR VEHICLE BODY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1:9151

NXN

VEHICLE BODY FilA/l Sept. 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f- 2b; @l l ,.Lq gew iff/7505155 Patented Aug. 22, 193,3

UNITED STATESA VEHICLE BODY Raymond L. Carr, Boston, Mass.v

Application september 25, 1931 Serial No. 565,002

1s claims. (c1. 295-45) This invention relates to an improved type of body construction, and more particularly to a body which is characterized by movable closurev panels which in their fully raised positions are in 5 direct juxtaposition to provide a continuous closure wall above the body wall. InV some respects this invention provides improvements upon the arrangement shown in my copending applications Serial No. 183,199, liled April 12, 1927, nowpatent No. 1,826,865 and Serial No. 3'l1,l62led June 12,1929. n Y

vThe present invention provides an arrangement for supporting the panels, including resilient elements which are effective in pressing the panel edges against each other, and provides means effectively to assure the proper reengagement of the panel edges after they have been separated due to opening of the door upon which one of the panels is carried. Furthermore, this invention provides a novel arrangement for hold- .ing the panels in yieldable engagement with each other to form a continuous closure wall. Preferably one of the panels is slidably mounted in a holder which permits longitudinal movement oi the panel in relation to the body Wall.

Lifting Vmeans of the general character disclosed in my lcopending application Serial No. 183,199 may be associated with this panel to move itin agenerally straight verticalpath until it to resilient springs that project from shoes slidable upon guides-within the body Wall. These springs are` eective in tending to press the panel edge yieldably against the adjoining panel and accordingly' when unstressed tend to hold the 40 edge ofthe panel with which they are associated in a position which is normally occupied by the `edge of the adjoining' panel, the springs ordinarily tending to tilt the upper edge of the panel in the direction of the other panel a greater distance than the lower edge thereof. Accordingly, when the door is opened and the panel edgesare moved out of engagement with each other, these edges are no longer in parallelism, asth'e springs Aare relieved from their normal stress due to engagement of the panels, and consequently the panel edges maynot be in a position properly to reengage each other. Furthermore, if the edges of the panels are formed of transparent material, it is desirable to prevent excessive shock CL and possible breakage or chipping of the transparent plates. The present invention provides means automatically to move the panel longitudinally in its holder when Vthe door is opened and to return the panel to its normal position after the door is closed, means also being provided to cause a lateral movement of the panel ,edge during-` this longitudinal movement. Accordingly, when thedoor is opened the panel may move longitudinally away from its normal position, so that, when the door is closed, the panel edges will not 4be brought directly in engagement, meansV being provided, however, automatically and gradually to, slide the panel upon its holder so that it ultimately returns to its position in engagement with the adjoining panel. An arrangement is providedk for stressing the springs while this return movement takes place, as Well as for tilting the panel out of its normal position so that itisreengaged with the edge of the adjoining panel, while approaching. the latter in a path substantially normal to the edge surface with which it engages. Y

This invention also provides an arrangement of resilient elements whereby the panels are acted upon by yieldable iulcrum members positioned 80, adjoining the upper edge ofthe body wall and normally engaging the panels throughout the path of the latter, while springs tending to draw the lower edges vof the panels away from each otherY cooperate with these fulcrum members in holding-the panel Aedges together.

The above and further. objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction 0 with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. lis a side elevation view of a portion of a body Wall showing the arrangement of closure panels carried thereby and the arrangement of supporting means for one of the panels, the outer face of the Wall being broken away for yclarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of a portion of the front panel vand related parts;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the panel in various positions inrelation to the door;

l FigA is a horizontal sectional View of the rear portion of the door and the adjoining section illustrating the arrangement ofthe panels, lthe door being shown in its partially open position in dot and dash lines; Y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section indicated by line 5-5 lof Fig. 1; i

Fig. 6 is a detail View, partially in section and partially in elevation, showing the arrangement of the lifting means and its connection with the panel; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational detail of the delay mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a section of a body wall in the form of a swinging door, while the numeral 2 designates an adjoining section-whch may be fixed and connected by hinges with the rear edge of the door section. A closure panel 3 may be carried by the door section 1 and a similar panel 4 carried by the body wall section 2. When the panels 3 and 4- are in their fully raised positions, as shown in Fig. 1, their margins may be held in overlappingl engagement to provide a continuous closure wall. Preferably the panels 3 and 4 may be provided with marginal frames upon three sides but may have their adjoining vertical edges unframed and in directthe springs are connected by bolts 11 to platesl or blocks 13 that are welded or otherwise secured to a channeled holder. 14 for the panel. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the holder 14 slidably receives the lower marginal frame 15 of the panel 3, a suitable thin filling or strip of cushioning material 67 being disposed between the glass plate and the frame 15. The other panel 4 is not provided with a holder, but is directly connected to the upper ends of springs 9.

A lifter 19 of the general character disclosed inmy copending application Serial No. 183,188 may be provided to permit Yconvenient movement of the panel 3, this lifter including a chain 20 passing over an upper sprocket 21 and a lower sprocket, not shown. A pin 22 projecting from the chain maybe connected to the panel 3 to lift the latter ina substantially vertical path until it approaches its fully raised position, `whereupon the portion of the chain carrying the pin 22 passes into engagement with the sprocket and begins to move rearwardly as well as upwardly. This movement is imparted to the panel 3 so the latter is brought into `engagement with the panel 4. Any suitable lifting mechanism (not shown)V may be provided to lift panel 4 in a straight, substantially vertical path.

Figs. 2 and 6 illustrate more-particularly the arrangement of the connecting means between the pin 22'carried by the chain andthe panel 3. The channeled holder 14 is provided with a slot 25 through which a depending substantiallyY U- shaped member 26 depends from panel 3.v The front of this member isv provided with a semivcylindrical recess engaging one side of pin 22.

A compression spring 30 is disposed between the opposite end of member 26 and the sliding block 31 which is provided with a similar semi-cylindrical recess, the block 31 also has suitable guide extensions engaging the edges of the member 26 and the sides of the slot 25. Thus, under normal conditions, the parts may be in a position illustrated in fulllines in Fig. 6, the end of member 26 and the block 31 cooperating and providing a cylindrical recess receiving the pin 22. However,'the spring 30 permits the panel 3 yieldably to move in its longitudinal path out of engagement with the panel 4.

In accordance with this invention an arm 35 may project forwardly from the rear of body section 2 through an opening in the end of door 1. This arm is provided with an upstanding lug 36 engageable with a swinging member 37 that is pivotally mounted on a bracket 38 within door 1. When the door is closed the lug 36 may engage an arm 39 of the member 37, the latter being connected by a link 40 with a swinging bar 41 pivotally supported by brackets 42 on the outer wall of the door. A projection 43 extending through a slot 45 in the bottom of the holder 14 is juxtaposed to the edge of member 41. When the door opens the arm 44 of member 37 is engaged by the lug 36, swinging the member 37 about its pivot and pulling the link 40 to swing the member 41 aboutits pivotal supports so that the projection 43 is engaged to slide the panel 3 in its holder in adirection away from the panel 2; under these conditions the spring 30 is compressed and the member 26 moves to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 6. When the door closes the lug 36 engages the arm 39 of the member 37 to swing the latter in a clockwise direction,l as viewed in Fig. 4, thus swinging the member 41 to permit the lug 43 and panel 3 to return to normal position under the action of compression spring 30. l Preferably this movement is retarded by a delay mechanism, indicated in generalby numeral 50, and comprising a cylinder 51 secured to a bracket depending from the holder 14, while a piston 54 in the cylinder carries a rod 55 secured to a depending bracket 53 extending through a slot 58 in the bottom of holder 14. Suitable ports 57 permit air to enter the cylinder when the panel 3 is slid away from the l4 panel 4. There is a suitable clearance between the piston and the cylinder wall to permit the gradual leakage of the trapped air, thus permitting the spring 30 gradually to return panel 3 to normal position.

An arm 60 depending through a slotr61 in the panel holder hasa roller 63 engaging a fixed cam 62 to cause the rear portion of panel 3 to move outwardly, stressing the springs 9, and particularly the rearspring, as the panel 3 slides in relation to its holder; as the panel continues on its 'rearward movement, the cam 62 permits the springs 9 to move the panel edge inwardly. Thus the panel edge returns into engagement with the edgeof the adjoining panel whilemoving in a path substantially normal to the panel 4. If the door l'remains open for a sufficient time to permit the panel 3 to return to its normal position, when the door is closed the end of arm 44 will engage lug 36 to 4swing the member 37 and .cause the panel to slide in its holder so that in all cases as the door is closed the 'panels 3 and 4 are out of direct engagement.

Preferably the guides 7 for the panel 3 and the springs 9 may be arranged so that they normally tend to pull the lower end of panel 3 outwardly away from panel 2. A yieldable fulcrum member 74, which may be in the form of a solid rubber cylinder, is disposed in the upper part of the body wall, pressing the panel in the opposite' direcblocks 11, however, being connected directly to the lower marginal frame 15 yof the panel 4,-while in the rear body wall section Zthe resilient fulcrum member 74 is disposed in engagement with the inner face of the closure panel.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the arrangement of the fulcrum members 74, Vthe panels 3 and 4, and the springs 9` whichfadjoin the rear edge of panel 3. The horizontal arrows' adjoining the fulcrum members and springs indicatethe approximate horizontal or transverse forces which these parts are imposing upon the panels to hold their edgesftogether. 'It is evident that the fulcrum members not only are arranged so that the stresses imposed by springs 20 tending to Apull the bottoms of the panels apart are effective in pressing their upper ends together, Abutl so that these members aid in holding the portionsof the panels therebetween in mutual engagement. The dot and dash lineposition of panel 3, designated A, is substantially the position the panel would occupy wereV its supporting means unstressed, the position designated B is substantially that which the panel occupies when the cam elements (S0-and 62 are engaged. l Y Y From the foregoing it is evident that I have provided means permitting the positive spacing of the panel edges at the instant of door closing and thereafter permitting their gradual relative movement into engagement with each other. The arrangement of the projection 60 and xed cam 62 assures the proper reengagement of the panel edges so that the edge of panel 2 approaches the Vedge of Apanel 3 when it is Vin a position substantially parallel to theV edge of panel 3 and while moving in a path substantially normal to the beveled surface of the rear panel. The arrangement of the springs 9 and resilient fulcrum elements 44 permits the rm lengagement of the upper edges of the panel as well as the remainder of the panel edges. i

I claim:

1. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging 'door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried on the respectivesections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidablyV mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, and means automatically operable to slide the panel in its holder inA response to door movement.

2. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including aswinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, means automatically operable in response to movement of the door toV slide the panel upon its holder away from its normal position, and means tending yieldably to return the'panel to its normal position.

3. Vehicle body'comprising a body wall including a swinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panelsY carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, means automatically operable in response to movement of the door to slide the panel upon its holder away from its normal position, and a spring tending yieldably to return the panel to its normal position.

4. Vehicle body comprising a body wall includ- A' ing a swinging door and an adjoining section, a

pair of panels carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including. a holder upon which one panel is slidably. mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact,means automatically operable in responseto movement of the door to slide the panel upon its holder away from its normal position, means tending yieldably to return the panel to its normal position, and delay mechanism to retard the return movement of the panel.

5. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, means automatically operable in response to movement of the door to slide the panel upon its holder away from its normal position, a spring tending yieldably to return the panel to its normal position. and delay mechanism to retard the return movement of the panel.

6. Vehicle bodycomprising a body wall including a swinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, an element projecting into the door, cam mechanism inthe door having a part engageable with the element and operable in response to door movement toslide the panel on its holder away from-its normal position.

'7. `Vehicle bodyY comprising a body wall including a `swinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carriedon the respective sections, supporting means for. said. panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted. said supporting Ymeans normally holding the panel edges in contact, an element projecting into the door, cam mechanism in the door having a part engageable` with the element and operable in response to door movement'to slide the panel on its holder awayfrom its normal position, and a spring tending to Areturn the panel to its normal position upon the holder.

8. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried on the respective sections,

supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, an element projecting into the door, cam mechanism in the door having a part engageable with the element and operable in response to door movement to slide the panel on its holder away from its normal position, and cam elements upon the door and panel engageable with each other to move the panel transversely as the latter returns to normal position, thereby causing the panels to engage each other in overlapping relationship. e

9. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a swinging door and an adjoining section, a

pair of panels carried on the respective sections, supporting means for said panels including a holder upon which one panel is slidably mounted, said supporting means normally holding the panel edges in contact, an element projecting into the door, cam mechanism in the door having a part engageable with the element and operable in response to door movement to slide the panel on its holder away from its normal position, a spring tending to return the panel to its normal position upon the holder, and delay mechanism to retard the movement of the panel.

10. Vehicle body comprising a body wall includ` ing a swinging door section and an adjoining section, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, one of said panels being slidable in relation to its section, and mechanism automatically operable to slide the panel in response to movement between the sections.

11. Vehicle body comprising a body wall includ. ing a pair of adjoining sections, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, positioning and guiding means for said panels, said means including a holder in which one of the panels is slidable longitudinally, lifting mechanism operable to move the panel upwardly and then slide it longitudinally upon its holder to engage the adjoining panels, and a resilient element tending to tip the lower end of one panel away from the other panel, fulcrum elements cooperating therewith to hold the panel edges in engagement.

12. Vehicle body comprising a body wall including a pair of adjoining sections, a pair of panels carried by the respective sections, positioning and guiding means for said panels, said means including a holder in which one of the panels is slidable longitudinally, lifting mechanisrn operable to move the panel upwardly and then slide it longitudinally upon its holder to engage the adjoining panels, and a resilient element tending to tip the lower end of one panel away from the other panel, fulcrum elements cooperating therewith to hold the panel edges in engagement, and mechanism automatically operable in response to movement of the door section to slide the panel upon its holder.

13. Vehicle body-comprising a pair of adjoining body Wall sections, a pair of independently movable panels carried by the respective sections, positioning and guiding means for said panels, said means including fulcrum elements disposed adjoining the top of the body wall and resilient parts connected to the panels below said elements tending to pull the lower ends of the panels apart, whereby their edges above the body wall are held in engagement.

, 14. lVehicle body comprising a pair of adjoiningbody wall sections, a pair of independently movable panels carried by the respective sections, positioning and` guiding means for said panels, said means including a yieldable fulcrurn member adjoining the top of the body Wall and engageable with one panel, and a resilient part connected to that panel below said element and tending to draw the bottom of that panel away from the other panel, whereby the panel edges above the body wall are held in engagement.

15. Vehicle body comprising a pair of adjoining body wall sections, a pair of independently movable panels carried by the respective sections, positioning and guiding means for said panels, said means including fulcrum elements disposed adjoining the top of the body wall, each of said y elements being disposed at one side of an adjoining panel and contacting a face of that panel, and resilient parts connecting the panels and the respective sections below said elements and tending to pull the lower ends of the panels apart transversely of the sections, whereby their edges above the body Wall are transversely pressed into engagement.

16.l Vehicle body-comprising a pair of adjoining body wall sections, a pair of independently tend -to urge the lower portions of the panels l apart transversely of the sections, rwhereby their edges above the body wall are transversely pressed into engagement.

' RAYMOND L. CARR. 

